58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

QBRacing · 07-07-2018, 01:53 AM

Today I decided to try and remove the rear taillight panel and the rear lower panel of the 58 Apaches wellside (see attached).

I wanted to remove the light panel to see if i could fix it as it has been dumped on its corner and is bent out of shape. I also wanted to clean up the lower panel and put some Por15 on the inside etc to help make it last a little longer...

I undid the bolts in the lower rear corners (where it attaches to the inner panel) but then I saw some welds. With these welds i cant see how to seperate the rear panel or the tail section....

are the welds normal and is so what the hells the point of the bolts....

_Ogre · 07-07-2018, 11:57 AM

fleet or step side trucks were bolted together,then welded to reinforce the rear pocket at the tailgate

Foot Stomper · 07-07-2018, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Ogre

fleet or step side trucks were bolted together,then welded to reinforce the rear pocket at the tailgate

Yup, ran into the same thing when taking apart my 59 Fleetside. Boggles my mind how they thought it needed welding.

It went back together with bolts only.

**hogfarm** · 07-08-2018, 07:44 AM

Looks to me that your bed has some extra not factory welds

**buggy5872** · 07-09-2018, 11:06 PM

They did not come from the factory welded. Someone added it.

QBRacing · 07-09-2018, 11:14 PM

thanks for the replies.

I ended up applying the POR to the top while in place then using a rubberized underbody spray to hit the underside of the channel.

thought it was weird

Foot Stomper · 07-10-2018, 12:19 AM

They were welded in the factory. Definitely.

_Ogre · 07-10-2018, 11:36 AM

fam sec 1 sheet 135 detail m-m
shows 2 welds with instructions to 'weld stake pocket to rear cross sill'

MARTINSR · 07-10-2018, 11:52 AM

The AD beds were welded like that too, along with bolts. And only on the rear threshold. You can see the bolts and the welds looking right near the tailgate hinges. And that's it, a weld on each side, the rest of the bed is bolted together, kinda funny.

Brian

Russell Ashley · 07-10-2018, 04:55 PM

You have to remember that these trucks were meant to be "beasts of burden" and not loved on like most of us do our trucks now. The bed sides would never have stayed at right angles to the bed floor if they weren't welded.

_Ogre · 07-10-2018, 04:59 PM

Quote:

not loved on like most of us do our trucks now

i beat the crap out of my longbed 09 gmc, not loved obviously and it shows

07-07-2018, 01:53 AM	#1
QBRacing Registered User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 300	58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels... Today I decided to try and remove the rear taillight panel and the rear lower panel of the 58 Apaches wellside (see attached). I wanted to remove the light panel to see if i could fix it as it has been dumped on its corner and is bent out of shape. I also wanted to clean up the lower panel and put some Por15 on the inside etc to help make it last a little longer... I undid the bolts in the lower rear corners (where it attaches to the inner panel) but then I saw some welds. With these welds i cant see how to seperate the rear panel or the tail section.... are the welds normal and is so what the hells the point of the bolts.... Attached Images __________________ My 1958 SWB Fleetside Build My 1971 Nova Build Site

07-07-2018, 11:57 AM	#2
_Ogre Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Motown Posts: 7,680	Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels... fleet or step side trucks were bolted together,then welded to reinforce the rear pocket at the tailgate __________________ cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer

07-08-2018, 07:44 AM	#4
hogfarm Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Appleton Washington Posts: 591	Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels... Looks to me that your bed has some extra not factory welds

07-09-2018, 11:06 PM	#5
buggy5872 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: North Beaver TWP PA Posts: 833	Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels... They did not come from the factory welded. Someone added it. __________________ ___________________________ 1959 Apache Short Fleetside, 1959 Apache NAPCO Long Stepside, 1957 3100 with 59 fleetside bed 1957 5700 LCF Crew Cab "Big Bertha",1959 GMC F370 1958 GMC 600, 1946 Chevy, 1959 Viking 60 LCF 1974 Elcamino SS, 1979 6500 GMC Tilt Bed Wrecker Big Bertha Build

07-09-2018, 11:14 PM	#6
QBRacing Registered User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 300	Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels... thanks for the replies. I ended up applying the POR to the top while in place then using a rubberized underbody spray to hit the underside of the channel. thought it was weird __________________ My 1958 SWB Fleetside Build My 1971 Nova Build Site

07-10-2018, 12:19 AM	#7
Foot Stomper Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 1,252	Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels... They were welded in the factory. Definitely. __________________ So when is this "Old enough to know better" supposed to kick in? My 1959 GMC build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=686989

07-10-2018, 11:36 AM	#8
_Ogre Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Motown Posts: 7,680	Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels... fam sec 1 sheet 135 detail m-m shows 2 welds with instructions to 'weld stake pocket to rear cross sill' Attached Images __________________ cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer

07-10-2018, 11:52 AM	#9
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels... The AD beds were welded like that too, along with bolts. And only on the rear threshold. You can see the bolts and the welds looking right near the tailgate hinges. And that's it, a weld on each side, the rest of the bed is bolted together, kinda funny. Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

07-10-2018, 04:55 PM	#10
Russell Ashley Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lawrenceville, Ga Posts: 2,648	Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels... You have to remember that these trucks were meant to be "beasts of burden" and not loved on like most of us do our trucks now. The bed sides would never have stayed at right angles to the bed floor if they weren't welded.



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